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THE  GENIUS 

OF  THE 

MARNE 


JOHN  L. 
BALDERSTON 


Introduction 
by 

GEORGE  MOORE 


lltltltf 

LIBRARY 

UMIVttSlTY  Of 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 


THE 
GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

A  PLAY  IN  THREE  SCENES 


BY 
JOHN  LLOYD  BALDERSTON 


WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION 
BY 

GEORGE  MOORE 


NICHOLAS  L.   BROWN 

NEW  YORK    -----     MCMXIX 


Copyright,  1919,  by 
NICHOLAS  L.  BROWN 


To  a  Lady  I  think  has  forgotten 
A  request,  and  a  promise, — 
This  play,  in  fulfilment. 


389 


INTRODUCTION 

BY 

GEORGE  MOORE 


INTRODUCTION 

We  have  lost  so  many  things  during  the  last  four 
years,  that  for  an  idea  of  number  we  turn  to  the 
stars;  the  endless  mystery  above  us  seems  greater 
than  the  mystery  over  yonder,  but  both  exceed  the 
compass  of  our  minds.  In  our  armchairs  we  sit  and 
dream  of  the  burning  of  the  great  library  at  Lou- 
vain,  of  the  Cathedrals  and  the  mediaeval  cities,  com- 
pendiums  and  abridgments  of  the  genius  of  the 
centuries  that  gave  birth  to  the  one  we  live  in,  to 
day  lonely  ruins  in  a  ragged  war-worn  land,  so  torn 
with  shells,  exploded  and  unexploded,  that  it  will 
remain  a  desert  for  a  hundred  years  at  least,  if  not 
for  all  time,  so  we  are  told.  Cambrai,  Ypres  and 
Rheims  have  gone  forever,  leaving  behind  them 
only  a  little  dust: 

Ce  que  le  papillon  de  I'dme 
Laisse  de  poussiere  apres  lui, 
Et  ce  qui  reste  de  la  -flame 
Sur  le  trepied  quand  il  a  lui. 

Our  thoughts  linger  for  a  moment  among  the  mul 
titudinous  graves  on  those  hillsides,  and  are  then  be- 

[ix] 


INTRODUCTION 

guiled  by  names  that  the  fortunes  of  war  made  known 
to  us  quickly  and  blotted  from  our  minds  almost  as 
quickly.  For  who  thinks  now,  except  by  chance,  of 
our  own  sturdy  Marshal  of  Mons?  Names  once  in 
every  mouth  return  to  us,  but  we  remember  them  so 
faintly  that  as  in  the  ballade  we  ask  —  who  held  the 
seas  in  his  cabin  on  board  the  Iron  Duke  for  more 
than  two  years ;  who  was  Petain,  Cadorna,  Castelnau, 
and  of  all  who  was  the  one-armed  legendary  hero  of 
those  early  days  in  Alsace?  and  who  —  we  must  not 
blame  ourselves  that  the  magical  victories  of  Foch 
have  put  Joffre's  name  out  of  our  minds ;  put  his  name 
out  of  our  minds  for  the  moment,  but  when  we  begin 
to  take  into  account  the  early  months  of  the  struggle 
it  will  be  discovered  whether  the  attack  in  the  lost 
provinces  was  ill-judged  and  mismanaged,  whether 
Joffre  was  right  or  whether  he  was  wrong  in  order 
ing  his  armies  across  the  Meuse  and  into  the  Belgian 
Ardennes  in  the  hope  of  breaking  the  German  on 
rush,  and  pressing  them  out  of  Belgium  before  the 
leaves  of  the  first  Autumn  had  fallen,  and  of  all 
whether  he  could  have  done  else  than  to  give  battle 
at  Charleroi.  For  these  disasters  Joffre  is  responsi 
ble,  no  doubt,  but  the  greatness  of  his  decision  to 
retrieve  these  mistakes  will  not  be  forgotten.  As  we 
sit  in  our  armchairs  our  hearts  stop  beating  again 
when  we  recall  those  terrible  August  days,  our  armies 

[x] 


INTRODUCTION 

streaming  back  and  back,  whilst  we,  and  those  higher 
than  we,  clamored  for  a  stand,  for  a  battle,  to  save 
Paris,  to  save  the  world.  But  in  spite  of  all  ad 
vocacy  for  battle  and  the  reasons  thereof,  Joffre  con 
tinued  resolute,  his  dull  response  to  all  entreaty  *  I 
will  not  fight  here,'  and  whether,  as  we  think  in 
England,  that  it  was  because  of  the  rout  of  the  Fifth 
Army,  commanded  by  Lanrezac,  whose  name  was  a 
black  raven  in  our  souls  for  a  few  days,  and  whom  we 
never  heard  of  more,  or  whether,  as  some  French 
writers  aver,  it  was  because  our  own  heroic  five  di 
visions  were  taken  rearwards  too  quickly,  leaving  a 
gap  on  the  extreme  left,  that  made  the  victory  of 
Guise-St.  Quentin  of  no  avail,  Joffre  continued  to 
mutter  4  not  here,  not  here,'  putting  a  strain  on  the 
endurance  of  his  soldiers  that  none  but  he  thought 
them  able  to  bear,  so  that  he  might  fight  in  the  end  on 
ground  of  his  own  choosing.  He  continued  the  re 
treat  mile  after  mile.  How  many?  sixty?  seventy? 
a  hundred?  it  may  be  as  many,  before  he  reached  the 
Marne,  and  France  had  begun  to  lose  faith  in  her 
leader,  but  when  the  Marne  was  reached,  Joffre  said : 
'  Now ! '  And  it  may  be  that  the  General's  staff 
at  last  grasped  Joffre's  strategy  in  time.  It  would 
seem  that  the  General's  staff  did,  for  Joffre's  plans 
were  carried  out  to  perfection,  as  they  would  be  by 
such  generals  as  Foch  and  Gallieni,  that  Gallieni  of 

[xi] 


INTRODUCTION 

the  taxi-cabs  whose  name  is  already  one  of  saga. 
Yes;  the  General's  staff  must  have  approved  in  the 
end,  though  in  the  beginning  they  doubted,  for  with 
out  perfect  apprehension  and  sympathy  the  battle  of 
the  Marne  would  have  miscarried,  without  such  men 
as  the  aforesaid  Joffre  could  have  done  nothing. 
There  were  other  minds  in  the  battle  of  the  Marne 
besides  Joffre's,  but  what  the  future  will  take  to 
heart  is  that  Joffre  did  the  right  thing  at  the  right 
time,  and  so  well  chosen  was  the  moment  that  we 
know  now  that  Moltke  the  Little  told  the  Kaiser 
that  the  war  was  lost  and  that  he  had  better  make 
peace.  The  Kaiser  found  he  could  not  make  peace, 
and  the  war  dragged  on  among  horrors  and  cruelties 
such  as  the  world  never  knew  before,  and  will  per 
chance  not  know  again,  so  it  is  said.  Our  chronicle 
stops  at  the  Marne,  at  Joffre's  great  victory.  The 
fading  of  his  glory  will  be  told  when  the  war  yields 
up  its  secrets,  but  whatever  new  fact  may  come  to 
light  none  will  be  discovered  to  disturb  or  to  tarnish 
his  strategy  at  the  Marne ;  none  will  ever  dispute  that 
he  won  at  the  Marne  and  that,  without  his  victory, 
France  must  have  been  taken  and  destroyed,  Britain 
and  America  in  their  turn  attacked,  and  a  destruc 
tion  commenced  of  such  magnitude  that  we  cannot 
consider  it :  like  the  skies,  it  is  too  vast. 

But  it  is  George  Moore  who  is  writing  these  words, 

[xii] 


INTRODUCTION 

and  he  hears  his  readers  say,  *  By  what  extraordi 
nary  pretension  does  this  spinner  of  tales  presume  to 
lecture  us  upon  strategy  and  tactics?  '  So  let  me 
make  confession  and  say  that  the  little  I  know  about 
these  things  is  due  to  my  friend  Mr.  John  Lloyd  Bal- 
derston,  who  when  he  was  in  England  came  to  my 
house  evening  after  evening,  and  after  we  had  talked 
of  things  nearer  my  heart,  would  spread  on  my  table 
his  maps,  and  as  he  talked,  lines  and  markings  took 
shape  and  meaning,  and  I  was  able  to  forget  the  hor 
ror  and  agony  always  present  in  the  mind  of  a  man  of 
imagination  and  follow  the  interplay  of  mind  against 
mind,  the  rules  of  the  game,  the  reason  why  such-and- 
such  a  general  had  done  this  and  that;  and  when  I 
was  too  optimistic,  his  maps  and  their  markings  tem 
pered  my  rejoicing  and,  conversely,  when  plunged 
in  despair  his  visits  and  his  maps  soothed  my  sor 
row. 

One  day  Mr.  Balderston  mentioned  to  me  that  he 
was  thinking  of  writing  a  play  and  with  Joffre  for 
its  hero,  and  after  the  relation  of  the  plot  I  asked 
him  what  he  proposed  to  call  it.  '  The  Spectre  of 
the  Marne,'  he  answered,  a  title  that  suggested  a 
lady  called  Mrs.  RadclifFe,  and  I  begged  him  to  seek 
another  title.  The  one  that  comes  to  my  mind  while 
writing  this  preface  is  the  one  that  I  hope  he  will 
adopt :  <  Yesterday's  Glory,'  for  what  is  the 

[xiii] 


INTRODUCTION 

Marne  but  yesterday's  glory !  Be  this  as  it  may  it 
did  not  surprise  me  that  in  long  brooding  he  had  dis 
covered  a  symbol,  a  synthesis,  an  interpretation  of 
the  genius  that  brought  about  the  victory.  The 
mystery  of  genius  has  always  occupied  the  mind  of 
man,  and  the  play  for  which  I  have  been  asked  to 
contribute  a  few  lines  of  introduction  is,  at  least  I 
take  it  to  be,  Mr.  Balderston's  explanation  of  the 
inspired  tactics  of  the  retreat  that  led  up  to  the 
Battle  of  the  Marne.  The  play  contains  one  scene 
truly  original,  one  which  remains  in  my  mind  and 
will,  I  think,  always  remain  in  the  mind  of  the  reader 

—  the  scene  in  which  Napoleon  appears  at  the  crit 
ical  moment  and  dictates  to  the  sleeping  general  the 
plan  of  the  battle.     Joffre  seems  to  have  had  the 
plan  of  the  Battle  of  the  Marne  in  his  mind  all  the 
while  from  Charleroi  to  the  Marne,  but  it  seemed  to 
refuse    to    take    precise    shape.     The    sleep-walking 
scene,  as  it  appears  to  me,  is  admirably  introduced 
by  an  argument  between  the  General  and  his  staff; 
each  general  in  turn  presses  the  necessity  of  a  de 
cision  on  Joffre;  a  decision  must  be  taken,  and  at 
once.     But  think,  reader,  what  this  decision  involved 

—  whether  Paris  was  to  be  destroyed  and  the  retreat 
continued  to  the  Loire,  or  whether  the  world's  destiny 
was  to  be  decided  at  the  Marne.     In  the  middle  of  the 
night  an  exhausted  general  is  called  upon  to  decide. 

[xiv] 


INTRODUCTION 

He  pleads  for  three  hours'  rest.  In  three  hours  he 
will  report  his  decision  to  them,  and  it  is  in  these 
hours  that  the  plan  of  the  battle  is  made  clear  to 
him.  .  .  . 

I  was  sorry  the  play  could  not  be  produced; 
though  I  knew  from  the  beginning  that  no  censor 
could  have  passed  it  while  contending  factions  argued 
about  who  won  the  battle,  whether  Joffre  or  Foch  or 
Gallieni  or  Manoury.  But  the  war  is  over  now,  and 
it  cannot  be  doubted  that  Foch,  the  hero  of  twenty 
victories  from  the  Marne  to  the  frontier,  would  be  the 
last  to  take  umbrage  at  the  imaginative  concentra 
tion  of  the  limelight  on  Joffre  at  the  Marne.  And  I 
do  not  think  the  most  unintelligent  among  the  audi 
ence,  if  the  play  be  ever  acted,  will  fail  to  see  that 
this  play  relies  for  its  interest,  not  on  controversy 
about  facts,  but  on  a  purely  spiritual  issue.  Is  a 
man  the  springhead  and  source  of  his  ideas,  or  are 
they  transmitted  to  him?  Mr.  Baldcrston  would 
seem  to  think  that  a  man  of  genius  is  but  the  mouth 
piece  of  a  voice  speaking  from  beyond. 

GEORGE  MOORE. 


[xv] 


CHARACTERS 

THE  GENERAL, 

LIEUTENANT,  THE  MARQUIS  GASTON  D'ARGOULLES, 
his  aide-de-camp, 

THE  DIRECTOR  or  OPERATIONS, 
THE  CHIEF  or  STAFF, 

COLONEL  BONNEL,  1 

[of  the  Headquarters  Staff. 
MAJOR  RAMEAUX, 

AN  ORDERLY, 
AN  APPARITION. 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 


SCENE  I 

The  scene  is  a  simply-furnished  office  in  the  Mairie 
of  a  small  town  in  the  Department  of  the  Seine,  now 
the  Grand  Quar  tier -General  de  France.  A  lamp  is 
burning  on  a  desk,  covered  with  maps,  that  stands  in 
the  center  of  the  room.  There  is  a  door  on  each 
side  of  the  room,  and,  in  the  rear  wall,  two  wm- 
dows.  The  hands  of  a  clock,  hanging  on  the  wall 
between  the  windows,  point  to  twelve.  A  daily  pad 
calendar,  fastened  on  the  wall  below  the  clock,  reads: 
"  September  4,  19 14-"  Maps  are  pinned  about  the 
walls,  and  fastened  on  a  tripod  that  stands  to  the 
right  of  the  desk  is  a  huge  map  of  Northern  France, 
some  eight  feet  by  -five.  A  red  circle  makes  the  forti 
fied  camp  of  Paris  recognizable,  and  the  coast  line  is 
also  visible;  a  strip  of  red  tape  across  the  map  indi 
cates  the  battle  line  on  September  4-  There  are  a 
few  chairs,  and,  near  the  left  hand  door,  a  couch 
upon  which  D'ARGOULLES,  a  young  man  in  the  early 
twenties,  his  Lieutenant's  uniform  smartly  cut,  with 
no  decorations,  is  asleep. 

The  right  hand  door  opens,  an  Orderly,  in  the 
1914  uniform  with  its  red  trousers,  enters  and  stands 
at  attention  as  the  DIRECTOR  or  OPERATIONS  and 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

MAJOR  RAMEAUX  enter ',  then  goes  out  and  closes  the 
door.  The  DIRECTOR  is  a  man  in  the  fifties,  wearing 
the  uniform  of  a  Major-General  with  the  cross  of  a 
Commander  of  the  Legion  of  Honor,  and  other  dec 
orations;  RAMEAUX,  an  officer  of  the  Legion,  is  per 
haps  forty.  Both  men  are  much  agitated. 

RAMEAUX 
Lieutenant ! 

(D'ARGOULLES  rises  and  salutes) 

DIRECTOR 
Tell  the  General  I  must  see  him. 

D'ARGOULLES 

I'm  sorry,  sir.  The  General  ordered  me  not  to  dis 
turb  him  under  any  circumstances. 

RAMEAUX 

The  Director  of  Operations  has  said  that  he  must 
see  the  General. 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Who  is  standing  firmly  before  the  door,  left) 
The  General's  orders,  sir.  I  cannot  take  the  respon 
sibility. 

DIRECTOR 
Ask  the  Chief  of  Staff  and  Colonel  Bonnel  if  they 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

will  come  here  at  once.     You  need  not   come  back. 
(D'ARGOULLES  salutes  and  goes  out,  right) 

RAMEAUX 
(Pacing  floor)      Twelve  o'clock! 

(Tears  September  4  leaf  from  the  calendar, 
revealing  September  5th) 

DIRECTOR 
Five  weeks ! 

RAMEAUX 
It  seems  five  years. 

DIRECTOR 
Will  you  knock  at  the  door? 

RAMEAUX 

(Hesitating)     It  is  for  you  or  the  Chief  of  Staff 
to  call  him. 

DIRECTOR 

(Doubtfully)     He    said   he   was    not    to   be   dis 
turbed.   .   .   .  You  are  sure  the  wires  are  cleared? 

RAMEAUX 
Yes. 

DIRECTOR 
To  all  the  army  headquarters? 

[3] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 

Yes,  they  are  clear;  except  when  the  army  gen 
erals  keep  them  busy  asking  instructions,  describing 
their  confusion,  (bitterly)  owing  to  our  failure  to  ex 
plain  our  plans. 

DIRECTOR 

I  know.  We  must  represent  the  situation  as  it  is. 
We  must  obtain  the  General's  orders  at  once. 

RAMEAUX 

They  are  upside  down  in  Paris.  To  evacuate  and 
surrender  the  city  or  to  stand  a  siege  —  to  clear  the 
troops  out,  or  to  bring  more  in  —  to  get  more  food 
supplies  or  to  destroy  what  they  have  —  they  keep 
begging  us  for  orders,  and  we  can  only  tell  them 
they  will  receive  their  orders  —  later ! 

DIRECTOR 
Rameaux!     We  must  trust  the  General! 

RAMEAUX 
Of  course,  but  this  delay  —  this  vacillation ! 

DIRECTOR 

He  has  been  unfortunate.     But  everything  may  be 
regained. 
[4] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 

(Shuddering)  That's  what  Napoleon  wired  to 
Paris  after  Gravelotte! 

(ORDERLY  opens  door  as  before  and  goes 
out  after  CHIEF  OF  STAFF  and  COLONEL,  BON- 
NEL  enter.  THE  CHIEF  OF  STAFF  is  in  the 
uniform  of  a  Major-General  with  the  Com 
mander's  cross  and  other  decorations.  BON- 
NEL,  who  wears  minor  decorations,  carries  a 
large  map.  Both  are  men  in  the  fifties) 

CHIEF 
(In  surprise)     The  General  isn't  here? 

DIRECTOR, 

In  his  study.  He  left  word  he  must  not  be  dis 
turbed. 

CHIEF 
Oh! 

DIRECTOR 

He  has  seen  no  one  since  eight  o'clock.  Since  then 
the  situation  has  become  so  serious  I  feel  he  must  be 
told  of  it  at  once. 

CHIEF 
It  is  serious  indeed. 

DIRECTOR 
Will  you  join  me  in  calling  the  General? 

[5] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

(Doubtfully)  In  spite  of  his  instructions?  He 
is  probably  drawing  up  his  orders  now.  He  may 
come  out  any  moment. 

BONNEL, 

(Who  has  spread  his  map  out  on  the  desk)  I 
have  marked  here  the  latest  movements  reported. 
(  They  gather  round  the  map;  RAMEAUX  walks  to  the 
tripod  map,  advances  at  certain  places  the  tape 
showing  the  German  line,  and  rejoins  the  group  at 
the  desk)  You  see,  they  are  coming  in  here,  and 
here,  and  here.  Already  several  dangerous  salients 
are  forming  in  our  line. 

CHIEF 
Our  line!     Can  we  still  call  that  a  line? 

BONNEL 

And  here  in  the  center  the  Ninth  army  is  being 
forced  back  upon  the  Marshes  of  St.  Gond. 

CHIEF 

Where  Napoleon  bogged  Bliicher's  Prussians  in 
1814.  A  trap,  that  place. 

DIRECTOR 

General,  do  you  now  agree  that  Paris  must  be  sur- 
[6] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

rendered,  and  the  offensive  you  recommended  aban 
doned? 

CHIEF 

By  no  means,  Director.  Paris  must  stand  a  siege, 
and  our  field-armies  turn  and  strike  as  soon  as  pos 
sible  to  relieve  the  city. 

DIRECTOR 

Your  former  opinion.  I  had  thought  the  events 
of  to-night  would  have  brought  you  to  my  side. 

BONNEL 
What  events? 

DIRECTOR 

Look  at  the  map!  Instead  of  halting  for  the 
night,  as  usual,  the  Germans  are  pressing  ahead  by 
forced  marches. 

CHIEF 
Well? 

RAMEAUX 

Von  Kluck's  First  army  is  already  almost  in  touch 
with  the  outer  forts  of  Paris. 

DIRECTOR 

The  other  German  armies  are  crossing  the  Marne. 
The  pressure  on  our  troops  increases  hourly. 

[7] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 
Still  I  ask,  why  surrender  Paris? 

DIRECTOR 

Because  the  enemy's  pursuit  has  now  made  it  im 
possible  to  carry  out  your  plan,  even  were  it  a  good 
one. 

RAMEAUX 

We  cannot  reform  now  to  fight  behind  the  Seine. 
We  must  continue  the  retreat  to  the  Loire. 

DIRECTOR 

Exactly.  So  why  subject  Paris  to  a  hopeless 
siege  ? 

RAMEAUX 

The  howitzers  that  destroyed  Liege  and  Namur 
would  breach  the  defenses  in  three  days. 

CHIEF 
You  are  wrong.     Paris  must  be  defended. 

RAMEAUX 

If  we  go  back  to  the  Loire,  as  we  must,  how  can 
the  city  be  relieved  in  time? 

CHIEF 

We  must  not  go  back  to  the  Loire. 
[8] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 

You  would  let  them  take  Paris  by  assault,  when  re 
sistance  would  serve  no  military  purpose?  Think  of 
the  destruction,  the  horrors  in  the  city  — 

RAMEAUX 

Louvain ! 

DIRECTOR 

No,  Paris  must  be  declared  an  open  town  and  given 
up. 

CHIEF 

You  speak  of  Paris  as  though  it  were  Lille  or 
Brussels.  This  is  not  primarily  a  military  problem. 
Paris  must  be  held,  because  the  loss  of  Paris  would 
break  the  heart  of  France. 

BONNEL 

And  for  that  reason  we  cannot  retreat  to  the 
Loire.  All  the  armies  must  take  the  offensive  on  the 
Seine,  to  save  Paris. 

CHIEF 

It  is  true  that  the  city  will  be  isolated  from  our 
armies  before  long  — 

DIRECTOR 
Before  morning! 

[9] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 
But  the  city  ought  to  hold  out  a  week  — 

RAMEAITX 

Not  three  days ! 

CHIEF 

And  in  a  week,  if  our  offensive  South  of  the  Seine 
succeeds,  we  can  advance  and  drive  off  the  besiegers. 

DIRECTOR 

You  are  hypnotized  by  a  word,  Paris  —  a  geo 
graphical  term  for  a  few  acres  of  houses.  To  save 
Paris,  you  would  ruin  France.  The  armies  cannot 
fight  on  the  Seine.  They  are  too  tired,  too  disorgan 
ized. 

CHIEF 
They  must  fight  somewhere! 

BONNEL, 
Why  not  the  Seine  as  well  as  the  Loire? 

DIRECTOR 

To  retreat  to  the  Loire  will  gain  ten  days  more. 
Our  reserve  of  fresh  troops  is  now  eight  divisions. 
It  will  then  be  twenty  divisions.  The  enemy  will  get 
few  reinforcements,  Russia  is  moving,  his  lines  of  com 
munication  lengthen  as  he  comes  on. 
[10] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
Exactly.     Our  chances  will  be  better  on  the  Loire. 

CHIEF 
Sound  military  reasoning,  yes.     And  fatal. 

DIRECTOR 
Explain  that  paradox. 

CHIEF 

The  loss  of  Paris,  followed  by  ten  days'  further 
retreat,  will  break  the  national  will.  In  the  eyes  of 
the  world  —  in  her  own  eyes  —  France  will  be  fin 
ished.  Our  armies  will  lack  heart  to  fight. 

RAMEAUX 

If  we  allow  our  movements  to  be  fettered  by  Paris, 
our  armies  will  be  destroyed. 

BONNEL, 

Well,  gentlemen,  our  views  are  unchanged.  But 
the  opinion  that  matters  is  the  General's.  What  will 
he  say? 

CHIEF 
I  don't  know. 

DIRECTOR 
He  has  not  dropped  a  hint. 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
Do  you  think  he  knows  himself? 

BONNEL 
I  cannot  think  he  will  abandon  Paris. 

DIRECTOR 

Why  then  did  he  tell  the  government  to  move  to 
Bordeaux  ? 

CHIEF 

He  foresaw  the  siege. 

DIRECTOR 
He  foresaw  that  he  must  give  up  the  city. 

RAMEAUX 
He's  not  made  up  his  mind. 

CHIEF 

Surely  he  must  by  now  have  done  so.  Every  hour 
increases  the  confusion,  makes  it  harder  to  carry  out 
a  new  plan. 

RAMEAUX 
We  must  all  make  that  clear  to  the  General. 

BONNEL, 

Surely,  Rameaux,  it  is  more  clear  to  him  than  to 
any  of  us. 
[12] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
I  hope  so. 

DIRECTOR 

At  such  a  moment,  none  of  us  wish  to  criticize,  to 
lose  faith.  But  we  must  face  facts.  If  the  Gen 
eral,  with  his  great  gifts  which  we  all  recognize,  has 
a  weakness,  it  is  our  duty  to  try  to  overcome  it. 

CHIEF 
Undoubtedly. 

BONNEL 
You  mean? 

DIRECTOR 
In  war  as  in  chess,  a  bad  plan  is  better  than  none. 

CHIEF 
A  Fabian  policy  may  be  pushed  to  extremes. 

DIRECTOR 
The  nettle  must  be  grasped  firmly. 

CHIEF 
And  at  once. 

RAMEAUX 

Enough  pretty  phrases.     You  mean  that  further 

[13] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

indecision,    hesitation,    vacillation,    procrastination, 
call  it  what  you  will,  is  fatal  I 

BONNEL 

(After  a  pause)  That  is  unfair.  I  believe  the 
General  sees  further  and  more  clearly  than  any  of 
us. 

CHIEF 
We  all  hope  so,  Bonnel. 

RAMEAUX 

How  do  you  account  then  for  his  leaving  the  army 
commanders  bewildered  by  conflicting  orders,  the 
Paris  garrison  not  told  whether  to  fight  or  get  out, 
with  the  enemy  almost  at  the  forts? 

BONNEL 

(Hesitating)  Local  disasters  may  rightly  be 
risked  to  gain  time  to  work  out  a  better  strategic 
plan. 

DIRECTOR 

That  thought  underlies  the  strategy  of  these 
whole  five  weeks. 

RAMEAUX 

And  it  has  given  us   the  disasters   before  Metz, 
Namur,  Charleroi,  and  now  — 
[14] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

(Sharply)  Rameaux!  We  must  not  say  these 
things. 

RAMEAUX 
But  only  think  them,  General? 

BONNEL. 

(Warmly)  I  for  one  do  not  think  them.  These 
disasters  were  not  the  fault  of  the  command  or  the 
army.  Germany  chose  her  time  for  war.  She  was 
ready,  we  were  not.  She  is  reaping  the  fruits  of  her 
preparation.  The  General's  has  been  the  only 
strategy  possible.  He  has  conducted  the  retreat  in 
a  masterly  manner. 

(The  GENERAL,  opens  the  door,  left,  stands 
unnoticed  for  a  moment.  He  wears  a  single 
decoration,  the  Grand  Cross  of  the  Legion  of 
Honor) 

RAMEAUX 
Wars  are  not  won  by  retreats ! 

GENERAL, 

(With  smiling  good-humor)  Good  morning,  gen 
tlemen.  (They  salute)  A  council  of  war,  I  per 
ceive. 

[15] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 
General,  the  latest  reports  are  very  grave. 

GENERAL 
What  are  they? 

DIRECTOR 

The  Germans  are  advancing  by  night.  Von 
Kluck  is  almost  in  touch  with  the  Paris  forts. 

GENERAL 
Is  that  all? 

RAMEAUX 
The  Paris  command  is  begging  us  for  orders. 

BONNEL, 

They  don't  know  whether  you  intend  to  evacuate 
the  city,  or  to  stand  a  siege. 

RAMEAUX 

They  say  the  uncertainty  makes  it  impossible  for 
them  to  do  anything.  They  will  not  be  responsible 
for  the  consequences,  unless  you  immediately  — 

GENERAL, 

Nerves,  Rameaux,  nerves.     Never  mind  what  they 
say. 
[16] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

The  Sixth  army  in  Paris  is  safe  for  the  moment, 
but  the  Fifth,  Fourth  and  British  armies  are  hard 
pressed. 

DIRECTOR 

If  our  heavy  guns  are  to  cover  the  Seine  cross 
ings,  there  is  barely  time  to  get  them  into  position. 
This  will  take  at  least  twenty-four  hours.  But  no 
orders  have  been  given. 

GENERAL 

(Coolly)  Surely,  gentlemen,  all  this  is  scarcely 
surprising. 

CHIEF 
No,  but  most  critical. 

GENERAL 

It  was  evident  that  as  the  enemy  neared  Paris  he 
would  try  to  disrupt  and  disorganize  us,  flurry  us, 
by  forced  marches. 

BONNEL 

(Stir  prised)  You  anticipated  these  develop 
ments  ? 

GENERAL 

The  campaign  seems  to  pursue  its  normal  course. 

[17] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

But  the  Paris  garrison  must  have  orders,  to  evacu 
ate  or  to  resist. 

DIRECTOR 

If  you  do  not  tell  them  at  once,  they  will  be  un 
able  to  do  either. 

(The  GENERAL  walks  to  the  desk  and  stud 
ies  the  map) 

RAMEAUX 

The  wires  to  the  army  headquarters  are  all  clear, 
waiting  your  orders,  sir. 

GENERAL, 
Thank  you,  Rameaux. 

CHIEF 
General,  may  I  speak  very  frankly? 

GENERAL 
Of  course. 

CHIEF 

It  seems  to  me  —  I  think  to  all  of  us  —  that  unless 
you  order  the  armies  now  to  reform  on  the  Seine  — 

DIRECTOR 

—  or  go  South  to  the  Loire  — 
[18] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

—  unless  you  order  Paris  held  — 

DIRECTOR 

—  or  abandoned  — 

CHIEF 

—  now,  your  orders  will  come  —  too  late. 

RAMEAUX 
The  confusion  will  be  too  great. 

CHIEF 
The  situation  will  be  out  of  our  hands. 

DIRECTOR 

As  Director  of  Operations,  it  is  my  duty  to  carry 
your  orders  into  effect.  I  must  warn  you  that  in  a 
few  hours  the  liaison  between  our  armies  will  be  bro 
ken,  and  it  will  be  impossible  to  put  any  general  plan 
into  execution. 

GENERAL 

Thank  you,  gentlemen,  thank  you.  (He  lights  a 
cigar)  In  a  few  hours,  I  think  you  said,  Director? 

CHIEF 
General,  what  do  you  propose  to  do? 

GENERAL 

I  have  not  decided.      (RAMEAUX  makes  gesture  of 

[19] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

despair)  I  shall  be  glad  to  hear  your  views.  Sit 
down.  (They  pull  up  chairs,  the  GENERAL,  sits  at 
the  desk)  There  are  some  cigarettes  in  the  drawer 
there.  (BONNEL,  passes  them  around)  Now,  your 
advice.  What  says  the  Chief  of  Staff? 

CHIEF 

The  retreat  has  gone  so  far  that  our  Western 
armies  cannot  engage  the  enemy  before  Paris.  But 
the  moral  effects  of  the  surrender  of  Paris  would  be 
fatal,  therefore  — 

DIRECTOR 
By  that  reasoning,  we  have  lost  the  war  already  ! 

GENERAL, 
Your  turn  will  come  later,  Director. 

CHIEF 

(With  an  angry  look  at  the  DIRECTOR)  To  con 
tinue.  Since  we  cannot  fight  in  front  of  Paris,  and 
the  city  must  be  held,  I  advise  that  the  garrison 
and  the  Sixth  army  be  ordered  to  stand  a  siege. 
After  losing  touch  with  Paris  the  field-armies  should 
reorganize  South  of  the  Seine  and  in  a  few  days  com 
mence  a  general  offensive.  If  successful,  this  will 
drive  the  enemy  back  and  relieve  the  city. 
[20] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 
And  you,  Director? 

DIRECTOR 

Such  a  course  must  result  in  disaster.  Our  one 
hope  is  to  continue  the  retreat  for  at  least  ten  days. 
Paris  must  be  declared  an  open  town  and  evacuated. 
The  garrison  and  the  Sixth  army  should  retire  with 
the  field-armies  to  the  Loire. 

GENERAL 
And  Verdun,  the  line  of  the  Meuse? 

DIRECTOR 

Must  be  abandoned  too.  On  the  line  Belfort  — 
Langres  —  the  Loire,  in  about  ten  days,  with  twelve 
fresh  reserve  divisions,  we  can  attack. 

GENERAL, 
Bonnel  ? 

BONNEL 

I  agree  with  the  Chief  of  Staff.  The  moral  con 
sequences  of  the  loss  of  Paris  would  be  such  that  any 
military  risks  to  save  the  city  are  justified. 

GENERAL. 
Rameaux? 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 

Our  only  hope  lies  in  the  immediate  inauguration 
of  the  movement  recommended  by  the  Director.  I 
have  emphasized  the  adjective.  There  is  barely  time 
to  get  the  troops  out  of  Paris. 

GENERAL, 

These  are  indeed  divided  counsels. 
(Pause) 

CHIEF 

I  believe  the  Director  of  Operations  profoundly 
wrong.  But  I  had  rather  you  took  his  advice,  to 
night,  than  mine,  in  the  morning.  Time  is  now 
everything. 

DIRECTOR 

It  would  be  better  to  adopt  the  Chief  of  Staff's 
plan  now,  bad  as  that  is,  than  delay  to-night  and 
order  the  retreat  to  the  Loire  in  the  morning.  Time 
is  now  all  important. 

GENERAL, 

(  With  a  hearty  laugh)  This  is  the  first  time  since 
this  campaign  began  that  you  two  men  have  agreed 
on  anything! 

BONNEL, 

But,  General,  which  is  your  opinion? 
[22] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

(Chuckling)  I'm  sorry  to  break  this  unaccus 
tomed  concord,  but  I'm  not  sure  that  I  agree  with 
either. 

CHIEF 

With  neither!  But  surely,  Paris  must  be  evacu 
ated,  or  it  must  be  defended! 

DIRECTOR 

And  if  we  do  not  stand  on  the  Seine,  the  retreat 
must  continue ! 

GENERAL, 

(Speaking  for  the  first  time  sharply,  in  tones  of 
command)  Rameaux!  You  say  you  are  in  touch 
with  all  the  armies.  What  about  my  mass  of 
maneuver,  my  strategic  reserve? 

RAMEAUX 

The  troops  detached  to  the  rear  for  the  offen 
sive  —  fourth  corps,  eleventh  corps,  42nd  division, 
61st  and  62nd  reserve  divisions  —  are  concentrated 
as  ordered,  waiting  instructions.  I  have  a  wire 
cleared  to  the  general  commanding. 

GENERAL, 
(Musingly)      The    mass    of    maneuver  —  for   the 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

offensive  — "  Napoleon's  greatest  gift  to  the  art  of 
war."  Bonnel,  you  were  there,  you  remember  how 
old  Blanchard  used  to  roll  that  off  his  tongue  in 
his  lectures  at  St.  Cyr?  Old  Whitehead,  we  boys 
used  to  call  him.  He  saw  the  Emperor  once.  He 
was  ten  years  old.  He  stood  with  his  mother  in  the 
Rue  de  Rivoli,  when  the  Grand  Army  came  back 
from  Austerlitz. 

RAMEAUX 
(Muttering)     Austerlitz,  indeed ! 

CHIEF 
But  the  orders,  sir  !     About  Paris  ! 

GENERAL 

Well,  gentlemen,  what  would  you  say  if  I  sent  the 
eight  divisions  of  the  mass  of  maneuver  into  Paris  to 
join  the  Sixth  army,  and  then  ordered  Gallieni  to 
fire  the  districts  on  the  left  bank,  blow  up  all  the 
bridges,  at  once,  without  waiting  for  the  forts  to 
fall?  (They  are  astounded)  The  garrison  and 
the  mass  of  maneuver,  with  the  Sixth  army,  hold  the 
right  bank  as  long  as  possible.  Then,  when  the 
Germans  force  the  Seine,  our  men  fight  through  the 
cellars  from  house  to  house  until  all  Paris  is  blown 
down  or  burned  over  their  heads. 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 
But  —  but  to  what  end  ? 

GENERAL 

The  Director  is  right.  The  forts  are  worthless. 
The  city  cannot  stand  a  siege. 

DIRECTOR 
But  I  suggested  evacuation  —  not  destruction ! 

RAMEAUX 
You  would  destroy  Paris? 

CHIEF 

If  I  am  wrong,  if  Paris  cannot  stand  a  siege  with 
a  prospect  of  relief,  then  why  not  abandon  the  city, 
as  the  Director  says? 

BONNEL 

Paris  !     Blown  down !     Burned ! 

GENERAL 

I  seem  to  have  shocked  you  all.  I  too  love  Paris. 
But  perhaps  she  must  perish  to  save  France. 

DIRECTOR 

But  how  can  this  destruction  help  the  armies  in  the 
field? 

[25] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 

The  German  plan  is  to  envelop  both  my  wings.  If 
either  attempt  succeeds,  we  are  lost.  They  are  try 
ing  to  roll  up  my  right,  before  Nancy.  Castelnau  is 
holding  the  Bavarians  there,  and  they  will  fail.  But 
here  on  my  left,  von  Kluck  and  Buelow's  turning 
movement  —  well,  as  you  have  said,  that  is  serious. 
If  I  left  the  garrison  in  Paris  to  stand  a  siege  they 
would  be  captured  to  no  purpose.  If  I  abandoned 
Paris  intact  and  retreated  towards  the  Loire,  the 
garrison,  the  Sixth  army  and  the  British  would  have 
to  stand  and  give  battle  in  the  open,  they  would  be 
beaten,  and  all  my  line  to  Verdun  rolled  up.  The 
enemy's  flanking  movement  must  be  held  until  I  can 
save  my  center.  The  city  can  stop  it,  where  armies 
in  the  field  could  not.  Their  big  guns  cannot  destroy 
all  the  houses  in  Paris  at  once,  as  they  will  the  forts. 
The  garrison  if  I  reinforce  them  can  hold  out  in  the 
cellars  and  the  streets  perhaps  a  week.  And  if 
Paris  and  Verdun  can  stop  the  Germans  a  week,  my 
center  armies  can  be  extricated,  reformed,  and  pre 
pared  for  the  offensive. 

(All  have  risen  except  the  GENERAL.     They 
are  much  affected) 

DIRECTOR 

These  are  your  orders? 
[26] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

Orders?  Oh  no,  not  orders.  Mere  speculation. 
As  I  said  just  now,  I  haven't  decided.  Please  sit 
down.  (They  do  so)  I  came  across  an  amusing 
sidelight  on  the  Boche  mind  just  now,  in  my  study. 
I  was  reading  La  Vie  Parisienne.  That  those  papers 
still  appear  in  these  times  is  a  tribute  to  the  national 
spirit. 

RAMEAUX 

You  were  reading  La  Vie  Parisienne  just  now,  in 
there  ? 

GENERAL 

You  are  right  to  be  shocked.  I  suppose  in  your 
spare  time  you  read  Clausewitz  Vom  Kriege? 

RAMEAUX 
(Severely)     I  have  no  spare  time,  sir. 

GENERAL 

You  know  those  darts  that  our  airmen  drop  on 
the  enemy?  The  Germans,  the  story  said,  regarded 
these  as  a  barbarous  invention.  (ORDERLY  enters, 
stands  at  attention  as  D'ARGOULLES  comes  in,  and 
goes  out.  D'ARGOULLES  salutes)  You  interrupted 
a  story,  Gaston.  What  is  it? 

D'ARGOULLES 

The  Wire  Chief  told  me  to  give  you  this  instantly, 
sir. 

[27] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

(Takes  paper,  glances  at  it,  lays  it  on  the  desk. 
To  D'ARGOULLES)  Sit  down  and  hear  my  story. 
(He  pulls  up  a  chair)  The  Germans  felt  deeply 
grieved  at  our  barbarity.  They  debated  the  ques 
tion  of  fitting  reprisals.  At  length  they  made  some 
darts  —  aeroplane  darts,  Gaston  —  and  threw  them 
on  a  squadron  of  French  cavalry.  One  of  them  was 
picked  up.  On  it  was  stamped :  "  Made  in  Ger 
many.  Invented  in  France." 

(D'ARGOULLES    and    the    GENERAL    alone 
laugh) 

CHIEF 
(Who  has  picked  up  the  message)     My  God! 

DIRECTOR 
What  is  it? 

CHIEF 

Marshal  French  reports  that  enemy  cavalry 
groups  are  penetrating  between  his  forces  and  the 
defenses  of  Paris !  The  English  are  about  to  lose  all 
contact  with  our  troops  on  their  left  t 

(General  consternation,  the  GENERAL  alone 
unmoved) 

BONNEL 

Our  line  is  breaking! 
[28] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 

If  the  British  lose  connection  with  the  Sixth  army 
and  Paris,  and  the  enemy  gets  through  the  gap  — 
(He  breaks  off) 

GENERAL 

Don't  be  alarmed.  It  is  my  job  to  do  the  worry 
ing  here.  And  how  should  I  not  worry,  when  I  have 
to  decline  so  much  excellent  advice  from  my  col 
leagues  ? 

CHIEF 

General,  our  fate  is  in  the  balance.  There  is  not 
a  moment  to  lose. 

(The  GENERAL  blows  rings  from  his  cigar) 

RAMEAUX 
What  are  you  going  to  do? 

GENERAL 

(Rising)      I'm  going  to  bed. 
(  Astonishment ) 

CHIEF 
You  will  give  no  orders? 

GENERAL 

Not  now  —  I  want  some  sleep.  If  the  armies  get 
anxious,  tell  them  to  worry  along  as  best  they  can. 

[29] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

Without  committing  themselves  to  any  definite  course 
of  action.     Emphasize  that. 

DIRECTOR 

I  beg  you  to  order  the  retreat  to  the  Loire,  and 
cancel  the  provisional  plans  for  an  offensive,  which 
are  blocking  the  transport  lines. 

RAMEAUX 
The  decision!     Are  you  going  to  fight  or  not? 

GENERAL 

(Sharply)  Most  battles  are  lost  by  Generals  who 
make  decisions  before  the  decisive  moment  has  ar 
rived. 

CHIEF 
This  is  the  decisive  moment. 

RAMEAUX 
Or  past  it ! 

GENERAL, 

The  Emperor  said,  "  First  engage  the  enemy,  and 
then  see."  I  have  engaged  him.  I  have  not  yet  seen 
—  not  clearly  enough. 

BONNEL, 

But  you  will  see ! 

(The  GENERAL,  thanks  him  with  a  look) 
[30] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 

But  in  another  few  hours,  contact  will  have  been 
lost  between  our  armies.  After  that  not  Napoleon 
himself  could  save  us. 

GENERAL 

"  Another  few  hours  "  !  "  After  that  "  !  I  said 
I  was  going  to  bed.  I  didn't  say  I  was  going  to 
sleep  round  the  clock!  Come  back  here  (Looks  at 
clock,  then  at  map  on  desk)  —  come  back  here  at 
three.  Then  —  then  we  shall  see.  (The  four  of 
ficers  go  out  reluctantly)  Gas  ton,  I  shall  not  go 
to  my  room. 

D'ARGOULLES 

You  never  do. 

GENERAL 

I'll  lie  down  here  on  your  couch.  You  know  what 
that  means? 


No,  General. 

GENERAL 

It  means  you  will  go  to  your  quarters  and  to  bed, 
and  not  get  up  until  I  send  for  you. 

D'ARGOULLES 

I  must  not  leave  you,  sir.     I'll  wait  outside  in  the 
passage. 

[31] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 

(Severely)  You'll  go  to  bed,  boy.  You've  been 
in  this  room  four  days. 

D'ARGOULLES 

Oh  no,  General. 

GENERAL 
Children  mustn't  go  without  their  sleep. 

D'ARGOULLES 

I've  slept  a  lot,  here,  at  odd  times.  But  you,  Gen 
eral,  I  don't  believe  you've  slept  at  all  since  the  re 
treat  began. 

GENERAL 

You  don't  know  what  I  do  in  my  study.  You'd 
have  roared  to  see  Rameaux's  face  when  I  told  them 
that  while  he  and  the  others  were  fretting  out  here 
waiting  for  my  orders  I  was  reading  La  Vie 
Parisienne  in  there. 

D'ARGOULLES 
You  —  reading  La  Vie  Parisienne! 

GENERAL 

Oh,  I've  wasted  lots  of  time  since  Charleroi.     I 
feel  every  now  and  then  that  I  have  to  relax  —  for 
get  it  all  for  ten  or  twenty  minutes  — 
[32] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

D'ARGOUKLES 

You  say  nothing  about  the  other  twenty-three 
hours  and  forty  minutes ! 

GENERAL 

Do  you  know  what  they're  all  thinking  now? 
Rameaux,  the  old  rascal,  is  saying  it.  He'd  fight 
any  one  who  talks  about  me  as  he  does. 

D'ARGOUKLES 
What,  General? 

GENERAL, 

The  army  runs  away,  the  enemy  pursues,  and  the 
General  —  goes  to  bed ! 

D'ARGOULLES 
Oh,  damn  them,  sir! 

GENERAL 

I  don't  blame  them.  It  is  touch  and  go.  But 
just  now,  when  they  wanted  me  to  issue  orders  that 
could  not  be  revoked,  that  would  commit  me  beyond 
hope  if  I  were  wrong,  something  seemed  to  stop  me. 
I  don't  know  what.  I  felt  it  was  not  the  moment. 
And  the  answer  will  come.  I  know  that  it  will  come. 

D'ARGOUI/LES 
Of  course  it  will,  sir. 

[33] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 

But  this  thinking-box  —  I  suppose  the  answer  must 
be  turned  out  of  that.  And  the  wheels  are  running 
slowly,  Gaston.  I  think  the  machine  will  work  better 
if  I  stop  it,  rest  it. 

D'ARGOULLES 

I  wish  you'd  do  that  more  often,  sir.     That  box 
holds  the  fate  of  France.     You  must  take  care  of  it. 
(He  starts  to  go  as  the  GENERAL  sits  on  the 
couch) 

GENERAL, 

(Half  playfully,  half  seriously)  Gaston,  what 
would  you  do  in  my  place? 

D'ARGOULLES 
What  do  you  mean,  sir? 

GENERAL, 

You  have  been  with  me,  you  alone,  outside  the 
staff,  know  the  true  position.  Would  you  abandon 
Paris  or  fight? 

D'ARGOULLES 

General,  you  are  laughing  at  me!     You  ask  me 
this,  me,  a  lieutenant? 
[34] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

I'm  quite  serious.  The  Chief  of  Staff  wants  to 
fight  to  relieve  Paris,  the  Director  wants  to  surren 
der  the  city  and  go  on  back.  The  rest  all  side  with 
one  or  the  other.  Both  factions  are  so  prejudiced 
that  no  new  facts  can  alter  their  views,  which  are  in 
consequence  entirely  worthless.  You  alone  among 
all  of  them  here  belong  to  neither  clique. 


I  cannot  —  I  am  not  worthy  —  I  have  no  right  to 
try  to  influence  the  supreme  decision. 

GENERAL, 
Your  general  demands  your  opinion. 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Slowly)  To  give  battle  —  the  battle  without  a 
morrow  —  risks  the  whole  army.  To  retreat  —  to 
yield  Paris  —  is  equally  perilous.  If  I  believed  in 
one  course  I  would  tell  you  so,  if  you  insisted. 

GENERAL 
You  believe  in  neither? 

D'ARGOTJLLES 

I  am  a  lieutenant  —  how  should  I  have  faced  the 
dilemma?  I  have  no  opinion. 

[35] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 
And  no  hope? 

D'ARGOULLES 
I  believe  in  you,  sir. 

GENERAL 

(Rising  and  putting  hand  on  his  shoulder) 
Thanks,  boy.  That  helps  more  than  advice.  And 
I  —  I  too  have  faith.  ...  I  believe  in  France.  Now 
run  along  to  bed ! 

(D'ARGOULLES  salutes,  the  GENERAL,  lies 
down  on  the  couch  as  D'ARGOULLES  blows  out 
the  lamp  on  the  desk  and  goes  out,  right. 
The  room  is  dimly  lit  by  the  moonlight,  com 
ing  through  the  windows) 

(THE  CURTAIN  is  LOWERED  AND  RAISED  TO  DENOTE 

THE    LAPSE    OF    AN    HOUR) 


[36] 


SCENE  II 

The  GENERAL  is  asleep.  He  sits  up,  slowly  rises 
and  gropes  about  the  room.  He  bumps  into  furni 
ture  as  he  feels  his  way,  and  is  evidently  walking  in 
his  sleep.  His  eyes  are  open,  fixed  in  a  rigid  stare, 
but  his  stumbling  and  groping  show  that  he  sees 
nothing.  After  he  has  wandered  about  aimlessly  for 
some  time,  the  right  hand  door  opens  quietly  and 
D'ARGOULLES  comes  in. 

D'ARGOULLES 

General,  I  was  in  the  passage.  I  heard  you  walk 
ing  about.  Shall  I  get  a  light?  Do  you  want  any 
thing?  (He  pauses  for  an  answer;  the  GENERAL 
walks  as  before)  Are  you  angry  because  I  did  not 
go  to  bed?  My  place  is  beside  you.  (D'ARGOULLES 
comes  closer.  He  starts  back  in  astonishment) 
Asleep !  He  is  asleep ! 

(Goes  forward  to  wake  him,  then  pauses 
irresolutely) 

GENERAL 

(Suddenly  stops,  left,  and  stands  in  a  rigid  atti 
tude  of  attention,  staring  across  the  room  towards 

[37] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

D'ARGOULLES,    who  is    standing    by     the    desk,    a 
shadowy    form    in    the    moonlight.     Very    sharply) 
Who's  there? 

D'ARGOULLES 

(In  a  terrified  voice)     It's  only  I,  sir. 

(Goes  out  hurriedly,  right,  closing  the 
door  quietly.  There  is  a  short  pause.  The 
GENERAL  maintains  the  same  pose  of  strained 
attention  and  continues  to  stare  towards  the 
place  where  D'ARGOULLES  stood  by  the  desk) 

GENERAL, 
(Shouts)     Who's  there,  I  say? 

VOICE 
A  soldier  of  France. 

GENERAL, 
Your  rank? 

VOICE 
(After  a  moment's  pause)     Corporal. 

GENERAL 
Your  business  here? 

VOICE 

To  save  the  Army. 
[38] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 
Where  have  you  come  from? 

VOICE 
L«s  Invalides. 

(A  Form  rustling  the  maps  on  the  desk 
gradually  becomes  visible) 

GENERAL, 

My  papers !  Spy !  (He  strides  towards  the  desk. 
The  APPARITION  is  now  seen  to  be  that  of  Napoleon, 
in  the  familiar  cocked  hat  and  cloak)  Corporal! 
The  Little  Corporal!  (Staggers  back  and  collapses 
on  the  couch)  Les  Invalides ! 

APPARITION 

(Mockingly)  You  call  yourself  a  soldier?  (The 
GENERAL,  trembling,  rises  and  salutes)  That's  bet 
ter.  (Acknowledging  the  salute)  This  map!  Are 
the  enemy  dispositions  given  here  up  to  date? 

GENERAL, 
Up  to  this  evening,  Sire. 

APPARITION 
(Surprised)     This  evening! 

GENERAL, 
Our  aeroplanes,  Sire. 

[39] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 

Yes,  I  forgot.  If  I  had  had  just  one  at  Quatre 
Bas!  (Gruffly)  Get  rid  of  your  cavalry.  Obso 
lete  arm.  Did  my  men  use  bows  and  arrows,  eh? 
Come  here.  (GENERAL  walks  slowly  to  the  desk) 
Sit  down.  (GENERAL  sits  at  the  desk)  Now. 
How  did  you  get  the  army  in  this  mess? 

(During  this  scene  a  ray  of  moonlight  falls 
on  the  desk) 

GENERAL, 
(  Wearily)     It's  a  long  story,  Sire. 

APPARITION 
Your  offensive  failed.     Why? 

GENERAL 

(Pulls  out  a  map  from  the  pile  on  the  desk;  the 
APPARITION  bends  over  him)  At  the  beginning  I 
seized  the  mountain  passes,  I  won  through  to  the 
plains  of  the  Saar.  I  attacked  between  Metz  and 
Strasburg. 

APPARITION 
Well? 

GENERAL 

I  was  beaten  at  Morhange.     I  retreated  to  cover 
Nancy. 
[40] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
Why  were  you  beaten? 

GENERAL 
Not  enough  guns. 

APPARITION 

(Angrily)  Not  enough  guns  !  What  was  my  ca 
reer  but  guns,  always  guns?  Austerlitz  —  those 
massed  guns  in  the  center  —  ever  hear  of  Auster 
litz  ?  Where  were  your  guns  ?  Forgot  to  make  'em, 
eh? 

GENERAL 
The  politicians,  Sire. 

APPARITION 
I  hope  you  wrung  their  necks  !     Well,  and  then  ? 

GENERAL 

(Pulling  out  another  map)  During  my  campaign 
in  Lorraine  the  enemy  came  through  Belgium  in 
great  strength.  I  had  to  re-group  to  meet  the  Bel 
gian  attack,  which  upset  all  my  plans. 

APPARITION 

(Snatching  the  map)  Your  initial  mobilization 
plans  left  the  Belgian  frontier  unguarded.  Why  ? 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 

Germany  had  guaranteed  the  neutrality  of  Bel 
gium.  We  did  not  think  — 

APPARITION 

(Throwing  down  the  map  in  disgust)  You 
trusted  the  word  of  a  Prussian?  Fool! 

GENERAL 
Still  I  did  not  renounce  the  offensive. 

APPARITION 
(Somewhat  mollified)     Good! 

GENERAL 

As  soon  as  I  had  regrouped  I  crossed  the  Meuse, 
and  attacked  in  the  Belgian  Ardennes.  There  too 
I  failed. 

APPARITION 
Why? 

GENERAL 

I  depended  on  Namur  to  hold.  It  fell  in  two  days. 
The  enemy  forced  the  Meuse.  My  line  was  broken. 
My  left  was  outflanked.  I  had  to  go  back. 

APPARITION 

Like  that  damned  ass  my  nephew,  you  forgot  one 
of  my  first  principles.     Never  trust  in  a  fortress ! 
[42] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 

Since  then  the  retreat  has  continued.  I  planned 
to  fight  on  the  Somme,  on  the  Aisne.  But  the  Ger 
man  right  wing  threatened  to  turn  the  British.  I 
had  to  go  on  back. 

APPARITION 

(Picking  up  map,  in  tone  of  annoyance)  Eng 
lish,  eh?  Fighting  in  France,  for  us? 

GENERAL, 

And  fighting  well,  Sire.  They  have  held  the  open 
flank. 

APPARITION 
(In  same  tone)     Relentless  foes  .  .  . 

GENERAL, 

(Interrupting)  —  make  the  staunchest  Allies, 
Sire. 

APPARITION 
How  are  their  troops  supplied? 

GENERAL 
The  Straits  of  Dover,  Sire. 

APPARITION 

Had  I  held  those  an  hour!  .  .  .  The  seas  are 
theirs,  then,  still? 

[43] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 
The  seas  of  all  the  world. 

APPARITION 

That  rascal  Villeneuve !  I  almost  had  them,  once ! 
.  .  .  England  and  France,  Allies !  .  .  .  It's  hard  to 
swallow,  that ! 

GENERAL 
But  Prussia,  Sire ! 

APPARITION 

Yes,  Prussia !  Pigs,  I  always  called  them  pigs. 
Is  it  so  long  since  Jena,  then,  that  they  think  to  suc 
ceed  where  I  failed? 

GENERAL, 
They  are  strong,  Sire,  very  strong! 

APPARITION 

But  England's  against  them,  now.  They  cannot 
beat  the  sea!  ...  A  century  is  long  to  hold  a 
grudge.  We  live  and  learn.  Sometimes  we  die  and 
learn.  Viw  V Angle t err e! 

GENERAL, 
Their  army,  Sire,  is  small. 

APPARITION 

The  sea  is  slow  but  sure.  They'll  come,  in  time.  .  .  . 
[44] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

Perhaps    those    others,    too,    beyond   the    seas.   .  .  . 
Leave  them  the  future.     The  present  is  our  task. 

GENERAL 
(Joyfully)      Ours,  Sire?     You'll  help  me  now? 

APPARITION 

I  felt  that  things  were  wrong.  I  could  not  rest  in 
that  great  granite  tomb.  So  I  came  here  —  and 
where  else  should  I  come? 

GENERAL 
To  save  the  army,  you  said. 

APPARITION 
Tell  me  your  plans.     I'll  help  you,  if  I  can. 

GENERAL 

(Pointing  on  map  as  APPARITION  sits  beside  him) 
My  left  is  being  forced  back  on  Paris. 

APPARITION 
Still  retreating,  eh? 

GENERAL  . 

I  have  not  stopped  the  retreat,  but  the  decision 
must  be  made  to-night.  I  must  fight  in  Paris,  fight 
on  the  Seine  to  relieve  Paris,  or  go  back  to  the  Loire. 

[45] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 

And  abandon  the  city?     Nonsense.     If  Paris  was 
worth  a  mass,  it  is  worth  a  battle. 


Their  big  guns  will  smash  the  forts,  but  the  garri 
son  fighting  through  the  houses  may  delay  the  en 
emy,  save  my  right  from  envelopment. 

APPARITION 

Fighting  through  the  houses  I  Would  you  destroy 
Paris,  you  vandal?  You're  not  a  German! 

GENERAL 
To  save  the  city  is  impossible. 

APPARITION 
(Sharply)     That  word  is  not  French  ! 

GENERAL 

I  thought  to  gain  time  to  save  my  center  armies 
by  adding  to  the  Paris  garrison  my  mass  of 
maneuver. 

APPARITION 

You  have  a  mass  of  maneuver?  Then  I  have 
taught  you  something! 

GENERAL 

Eight  fresh  divisions,  Sire. 
[46] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
(Coldly)     Who  invented  the  mass  of  maneuver? 

GENERAL 
You,  Sire. 

APPARITION 
What  did  I  use  it  for? 

GENERAL 
To  throw  in  at  the  critical  moment  — 

APPARITION 
When  the  battle  was  ripe  — 

GENERAL 
For  the  offensive.     To  break  the  enemy's  line. 

APPARITION 

(Angrily)  Exactly.  You  know  that.  And  you 
—  you  have  your  fresh  troops.  And  you  propose 
with  the  rest  of  your  armies  to  retreat,  while  you 
throw  your  reserves  into  Paris  to  fight  on  the  de 
fensive  —  the  defensive  —  let  them  cut  off  your  field 
army  from  your  mass  of  maneuver,  and  destroy  the 
city  into  the  bargain.  You  fight  like  an  Austrian ! 

GENERAL 

I  have  done  nothing  yet,  Sire.  The  position  is  not 
compromised. 

[47] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
You  have  not  committed  yourself? 

GENERAL, 
No. 

APPARITION 

Show  me  your  dispositions.  (GENERAL  points  to 
map,  the  APPARITION  studies  it  for  a  few  moments) 
And  in  this  desperate  situation,  you  have  issued  no 
orders,  you  have  decided  on  no  measures,  you  have 
not  even  moved  your  reserves? 

GENERAL. 
No.     My  staff  has  been  pressing  me  to  decide  — 

APPARITION 

Of  course  it  has.  How  well  I  know  those  staffs ! 
Chattering  like  magpies,  eh? 

GENERAL, 
But  I  have  felt  the  moment  had  not  come. 

APPARITION 

(With  emphatic  approval)  You  have  known  how 
to  wait. 

GENERAL, 

It  has  been  hard. 
[48] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
The  hardest  thing  in  war. 

GENERAL 

I  delayed.  I  didn't  know  why.  I  must  have  been 
waiting  for  you. 

APPARITION 

Had  you  not  waited,  I  could  not  have  saved  vou. 
You  have  mastered  without  me  the  lesson  I  could 
never  teach  my  marshals.  (Studies  the  map)  The 
old  arrogance !  Men  of  one  idea,  these  Prussians. 
Envelopment!  Know  nothing  else  of  war.  Well, 
well,  we'll  humor  them. 

GENERAL, 
Show  me,  Sire,  show  me ! 

APPARITION 
The  moment  is  at  hand  to  strike ! 

GENERAL 
(Joyfully)     The  offensive? 

APPARITION 

They're  fooling  you  with  this  march  on  Paris. 
Do  you  understand?  They're  fooling  you! 

GENERAL 
How  so,  Sire? 

[49] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 

These  two  armies  on  their  right,  marked  von 
Kluck  and  Buelow  —  they  can't  go  on  like  this.  Not 
unless  you  retreat  and  let  them  do  it.  They're  fool 
ing  you,  I  say  !  Don't  let  yourself  be  tricked. 

GENERAL 
I  don't  understand. 

APPARITION 

Take  the  present  line  of  march  of  the  two  armies. 
Suppose  they  continue  for  twelve  hours  more  in  the 
same  directions,  on  these  roads  here,  you  see? 

Where  do  you  find  them  then? 

GENERAL 

(Picks  up  scales  and  works  on  the  map)  They 
will  drift  apart !  There  will  be  a  gap  of  thirty 
miles ! 

APPARITION 
Well? 

GENERAL 

They  can't  do  that.  They  must  close  the  gap  at 
once. 

APPARITION 

How? 
[50] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 
Either  halt  all  their  armies  to  rectify  their  line  .  .  . 

APPARITION 

Halt?  You  don't  know  your  Prussians!  They'll 
never  stop  —  they  think  they've  got  you,  they'll  press 
the  pursuit. 

GENERAL 

Then,  if  Buelow  and  the  others  keep  on  advancing, 
von  Kluck  must  turn  to  the  left  and  march  to  the 
Southeast  to  maintain  contact  with  Buelow  —  (Leap 
ing  up)  —  I  see,  I  see,  Sire !  —  he  marches  across  my 
front !  He  presents  me  his  flank ! 

APPARITION 

(Scornfully)  And  meanwhile  your  armies  retreat, 
your  garrison  and  mass  of  maneuver  crouch  in  the 
cellars  of  Paris  — 

GENERAL, 

No,  I  attack !  I  attack !  He  offers  me  his  flank, 
I  strike  him  in  the  flank !  I  crush  his  army,  I  roll  up 
the  German  right ! 

APPARITION 

(Chuckling)  Not  so  fast,  my  son.  You  attack, 
yes.  But  they'll  swing  reserves  over  to  help  von 

[51] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

Kluck.     He's  very  strong.     You  might  not  roll  him 
up. 

GENERAL, 
(Crestfallen)     Surely  I  try  it? 

APPARITION 

Yes,  but  that  isn't  all.  We  must  make  sure  of 
this.  (Bends  over  map  —  chuckles)  Why,  it's  as 
simple  as  Marengo. 

GENERAL 
Tell  me,  Sire,  tell  me ! 

APPARITION 

Eighteen  fourteen  —  the  marshes  of  St.  Gond  —  is 
that  little  bit  of  work  still  remembered? 

GENERAL, 
Your  masterpiece,  Sire. 

APPARITION 

Gave  old  Bliicher  a  hiding,  eh?  Prussians  they 
were  then,  too.  Good  omen,  that.  Now  listen. 
Our  strategic  reserve  we  divide  in  half,  so.  (Point 
ing)  One  half  comes  to  the  Paris  army.  The  other 
half  concentrates  in  the  center,  so,  behind  your  Ninth 
army.  All  armies  stop  the  retreat  at  once  and  pre 
pare  to  attack  in  twenty-four  hours. 
[52] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 
They  cannot  get   ready   in  a  day. 

APPARITION 

They  must !  During  to-day  the  Sixth  army  moves 
out  from  Paris.  At  daybreak  to-morrow  it  attacks 
the  flank  von  Kluck  will  have  exposed,  so  1  His  po 
sition  of  course  is  compromised,  he  must  stop,  form 
front  to  flank,  call  for  reserves  to  save  himself,  so ! 
Over  here  in  the  center  you  retreat,  during  the  first 
two  days  of  the  battle.  The  enemy  will  pursue.  On 
the  third  day,  whether  you  are  winning  or  losing 
against  von  Kluck —  (The  APPARITION  has  risen) 
do  you  see? 

GENERAL, 

(Breathlessly)     Go  on! 

APPARITION 

Why,  then,  my  son,  the  battle  is  ripe !  You  throw 
in  the  second  half  of  the  mass  of  maneuver,  for  the 
decision ! 

GENERAL. 
But  where? 

APPARITION 
Why,  in  the  same  old  place! 

GENERAL 
The  Marshes  of  St.  Gond ! 

[53] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
They'll  remember  Bliicher,  when  it  is  too  late. 

GENERAL 
Eighteen  fourteen  again ! 

APPARITION 

His  line  will  be  weak  there,  stretched  forward 
where  he  has  pursued  your  center,  the  bogs  in  his 
rear,  his  reserves  moved  sixty  miles  to  the  west  to 
help  von  Kluck. 

GENERAL, 

I  break  his  line  in  the  center!  I  throw  him  into 
the  marshes !  He  must  retreat  everywhere  at  once, 
whatever  happens  on  the  wings.  The  battle  is  won ! 
(The  APPARITION  begins  to  move  away.  The  GEN 
ERAL  rises)  I  see  it!  but  your  brain  is  lightning, 
Sire !  Tell  me  again  —  more  fully  —  more  details. 
—  I  may  have  missed  some  point. 

(  Walks  after  the  phantom) 

APPARITION 

(Halting ;  motions  the  GENERAL  towards  the 
study-door)  We'll  have  time  and  enough  to  fight 
this  over,  Comrade,  when  you  come  to  stay  with  me. 

GENERAL 

To  stay  with  you,  Sire?     Where? 
[54] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

APPARITION 
Les  Invalides. 

(The  APPARITION  passes  through  the  door 
way  on  the  left,  followed  by  the  GENERAL. 
The  door  closes) 

(There  is  a  soft  knock,  followed  by  a 
louder  one,  on  the  other  door.  The  door  is 
opened.  D'ARGOULLES  retreats  into  the 
room,  protestingly,  before  RAMEAUX  and  the 
DIRECTOR  OF  OPERATIONS.  They  halt  by  the 
doorway.  A  little  light  shines  through  from 
the  hall  upon  them,  but  the  room  remains  in 
shadow,  and  the  intruders,  who  cannot  see 
that  the  couch  is  empty,  speak  throughout 
this  scene  in  whispers) 

D'ARGOUULES 
Gentlemen,  I  protest  against  this  intrusion. 

RAMEAUX 

When  members  of  the  staff  desire  to  see  the  Gen 
eral,  they  are  not  to  be  ordered  away  by  subalterns. 

D'ARGOUI/LES 

The  General's  orders  were  to  be  called  at  three 
o'clock.  It  is  not  yet  two.  I  beg  you  to  withdraw. 
He  needs  rest.  You  do  not  know  how  badly. 

[55] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 
This  is  no  time  for  any  one  to  rest. 

(The  CHIEF  OF  STAFF  and  COLONEL  BON- 
NEL  enter) 

CHIEF 

What's  the  matter? 

RAMEAUX 

M.  le  Marquis  d'Argoulles  has  had  the  misfortune 
to  forget  that  since  the  first  of  August  he  has  been 
Lieutenant  d'Argoulles. 

D'ARGOULLES 

Lieutenant  d'Argoulles,  personal  aide-de-camp  to 
the  Generalissimo. 

BONNEL 
You  propose  to  wake  the  General? 

D'ARGOULLES 
Against  his  explicit  orders  not  to  be  disturbed. 

RAMEAUX 
Insolent  puppy! 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Standing  at  attention)     After  the  war,  Major, 
my  friends  shall  have  the  honor  to  wait  upon 
[56] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
(Furiously)     You  hear?     A  challenge! 

CHIEF 
How  can  any  Frenchman  quarrel,  to-night? 

DIRECTOR 
And  here,  here  of  all  places ! 

D'ARGOUI/LES 

You  are  right,  Sirs.     Major,  I  beg  your  pardon. 
(RAMEAUX  grunts) 

CHIEF 
(To  DIRECTOR)      What  will  you  say  to  him? 

DIRECTOR. 

A  new  situation  has  arisen  on  the  Meuse.  The 
Germans  are  massing  to  attack  Fort  Troyon,  cross 
the  river,  and  take  Verdun  and  Sarrail's  army  in  the 
rear. 

CHIEF 

Surely  this  is  not  so  serious  as  the  position  before 
Paris. 

DIRECTOR 

No,  but  it  is  new,  it  gives  us  a  pretext  to  wake  him. 
He  must  decide  on  a  general  plan.  Every  minute 

[57] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

that  he  sleeps  here  may  be  the  last  possible  minute 
when  his  orders  can  save  us. 

CHIEF 

Yes,  I  have  been  sitting  in  my  room,  every  tick  of 
the  clock  sounding  in  my  ears  like  the  death-knell  of 
the  army. 

RAMEAUX 

You  are  all  afraid !  I  will  do  it!  (Lights  match, 
goes  to  the  couch,  says  aloud)  He  isn't  here ! 

(They  all  advance  in  surprise,   and  now 
speak  aloud) 

CHIEF 

Not  here!  (To  D'ARGOUKLES)  He  hasn't  gone 
out? 

D'ARGOUKLES 

No.     I  have  been  in  the  passage. 

(They  look  at  the  study-door) 

BONNEL 
He  is  in  there,  working. 

DIRECTOR 
He  said  he  was  going  to  bed ! 

CHIEF 

He  is  drawing  up  his  orders  at  last. 
[58] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
Reading  La  Vie  Parisienne,  more  likely. 

DIRECTOR 
Why  did  he  tell  us  he  wanted  to  sleep? 

(RAMEAUX  goes  towards  study  door, 
D'ARGOULLES  makes  appealing  gesture  to  the 
others) 

BONNEL 

Rameaux,  one  moment!  Gentlemen,  our  nerves, 
yours  and  mine,  are  almost  gone. 

RAMEAUX 
And  well  they  may  be. 

BONNEL 

One  man  only  at  headquarters  is  cool  —  the  Gen 
eral.  One  man  is  quiet  and  confident  —  the  General. 
He  said  he  was  going  to  bed  because  he  wanted  to  get 
rid  of  us,  to  prepare  his  plan.  He  told  us  to  come 
back  at  three  o'clock. 

DIRECTOR 
But  there  is  no  time  to  lose. 

CHIEF 

Bonnel  is  right.  The  responsibility  for  delay  is 
not  ours.  We  must  wait  another  hour. 

[59] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

(Goes  out,  followed  by  BONNEL.  D'An- 
GOULLES  stands  by  the  door  at  attention  as 
RAMEAUX  and  the  DIRECTOR  reluctantly  de 
part,  then  goes  out,  closing  the  door  behind 
him.  After  a  pause  the  study-door  opens. 
The  GENERAL,  still  asleep,  his  eyes  open  but 
fixed,  gropes  his  way  to  the  desk,  picks  up 
pen  and  scales  and  works  for  some  time  over 
the  map.  Then  he  rises,  walks  to  the  great 
tripod  map  and  by  gesture  indicates  the  plan 
of  the  Battle  of  the  Marne  —  the  -flanking 
attack  -from  Paris  against  von  Kluck,  fol 
lowed  by  the  blow  against  the  German  center. 
He  stumbles  to  the  couch  and  lies  down) 

(THE   CURTAIN   is   LOWERED   TO   INDICATE   THAT   AN 
HOUR  PASSES). 


[60] 


SCENE  III 

(  The  curtain  rises  on  the  same  scene.  The  GEN 
ERAL  is  sleeping  quietly.  The  stage  is  dark,  there  is 
no  more  moon.  D'ARGOULLES  enters  and  lights  the 
lamp  on  the  desk  —  it  is  just  three  by  the  clock  on 
the  wall  —  and  the  four  Staff  Officers  come  in) 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Walks  to  the  couch  and  calls)  General!  (The 
GENERAL  stirs)  It  is  three  o'clock! 

GENERAL 

(Sits  up  and  rubs  his  eyes,  points  to  the  desk) 
The  map!  that  map!  (D'ARGOULLES  hands  it  to 
him  as  he  rises.  He  looks  at  it  in  great  surprise  for 
a  moment.  The  quiet,  nonchalant  manner  adopted 
in  his  earlier  scene  with  his  Officers  now  gives  way  to 
brusqueness)  Rameaux,  take  these  orders.  (RA- 
MEAUX  sits  at  desk  and  writes)  "  Half  of  my  mass 
of  maneuver  — Fourth  Corps,  61st  and  62d  Reserve 
Divisions  —  will  proceed  to  Paris  at  once  and  march 
out  to  reinforce  the  Sixth  Army,  which  will  be  in 
action  when  they  arrive.  The  Sixth  Army  under 
Manoury,  with  the  mobile  garrison  of  Paris,  will 
leave  the  city  immediately,  move  North  to-day,  and 

[61] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

attack  von  Kluck  at  dawn  to-morrow,  driving  him 
back  upon  the  Ourcq.  The  attack  must  be  delivered 
at  dawn,  in  twenty-four  hours ;  I  will  tolerate  no  ex 
cuses,  no  delay."  Put  those  orders  on  the  wire  in 
stantly. 

(All  four  Officers  are  astounded  and  dis 
mayed) 

RAMEAUX 

(Rises  with  the  sheet  of  paper  in  his  hand)     But, 
General  — 

CHIEF 
You  cannot  attack  von  Kluck,  now ! 

BONNEL, 

You  are  trying  to  save  Paris? 

GENERAL, 
Not  a  shell  shall  touch  the  city  I 

DIRECTOR 

You  propose  to  attack  by  forced  marches,  with 
a  few  beaten  brigades,  a  great  army,  flushed  with 
victory,  backed  by  heavy  guns  ? 

RAMEAUX 
General,  this  is  madness,  ruin ! 

GENERAL 

Put  those  orders  on  the  wire ! 
[62] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

At  least  explain  this  amazing  plan  ! 

GENERAL 

As  you  well  said  three  hours  ago,  there  is  no  time 
to  lose. 

(Points  to  the  door,  D'ARGOULLES  opens 
it;  RAMEAUX  reluctantly  goes  out.  D'AR- 
GOULLES  shuts  the  door.  There  is  a  moment 
of  silence) 

DIRECTOR 

(Bitterly,  to  the  CHIEF  OF  STAFF)      I  hope  you 
are  satisfied,  General.     You  have  got  your  offensive ! 

CHIEF 

My  offensive !     I  wanted  to  stop  behind  the  Seine, 
to  reorganize,  rest,  before  attacking! 

GENERAL 

(With  his  eyes  on  the  map)      The  orders  for  the 
other  armies!     Will  you  take  them,  Bonnel? 

BONNEL, 
General,  will  you  not  discuss  your  plan? 

DIRECTOR 

You   fling   a   few   disorganized   divisions   without 
guns  into  the  enemy's  mouth  I 

[63] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

Even  the  reserves  cannot  get  up  in  time  —  you 
said  the  Sixth  army  would  be  in  action  when  they 
arrived. 

DIRECTOR 

In  action !  In  German  prison  pens !  You  send 
us  piece-meal  to  be  gobbled  up  ! 

BONNEL, 

(Weeping)  I,  too,  General,  beg  you  to  recon 
sider. 

GENERAL, 

(Who  has  listened  patiently,  puts  down  the  map; 
with  a  laugh  to  BONNEL)  Et  tu,  Brute? 

CHIEF 
Do  you  refuse  to  listen  to  us  ? 

GENERAL, 

Of  course  not.  I'm  sorry  that  I  was  rude,  but 
the  orders  for  the  Sixth  army  were  instant.  I  could 
no't  discuss  them.  The  Sixth  army  moves  first.  I 
will  dictate  the  other  orders  in  five  minutes.  That 
time  is  at  your  disposal. 

DIRECTOR 

Five  minutes,  to  decide  the  fate  of  France ! 
[64] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

(Somewhat  vaguely)  I  think  the  fate  of  France 
has  been  decided. 

(The  GENERAL  sits  at  the  desk  and  lights  a 
cigar.  His  poise  and  confidence  as  this  scene 
progresses  begin  to  impress  the  others,  with 
out  converting  them) 

DIRECTOR 

Such  a  proposal  as  this  was  never  heard  of  in 
military  history. 

GENERAL, 

Then  it  is  probable,  Director,  that  the  move  will 
surprise  the  enemy  no  less  than  it  has  surprised  my 
staff. 

(RAMEAUX  re-enters) 

CHIEF 

To  bring  the  Sixth  army  out  from  Paris  to-day 
and  organize  for  attack  in  twenty-four  hours  is  im 
possible. 

GENERAL, 
That  word  is  not  French! 

BONNEL, 

(To  RAMEAUX)  That's  what  the  Emperor  used 
to  tell  his  staff ! 

[65] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 

There  is  not  enough  military  transport  in  the  city 
to  move  five  divisions  twenty-five  miles  in  a  day. 

GENERAL 
There  are  eight  thousand  taxicabs. 

BONNEL, 
That's  true. 

RAMEAUX 

Von  Kluck's  army  is  victorious  —  it  has  not  been 
disorganized  by  defeat  and  flight  —  it  contains  nine 
divisions.  You  propose  to  throw  against  it  five 
beaten  divisions. 

GENERAL, 

The  units  of  the  Sixth  army  have  not  been  badly 
hammered,  like  our  other  troops. 

CHIEF 

And  the  four  other  divisions  you  order  up  from  the 
strategic  reserve  to  support  the  attack  cannot  go  in 
until  the  third  day. 

GENERAL, 
The  second  day. 

RAMEAUX 
They  cannot — = 
[66] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 
(Decisively)      They  must ! 

DIRECTOR 

Assume  the  impossible.  Assume  that  the  Sixth 
army  to-morrow,  tired,  without  guns,  defeats  von 
Kluck's  present  force.  Still  your  plan  is  fatal! 

GENERAL 
I  am  listening. 

DIRECTOR 

Because  we  cannot  send  help  from  our  center 
armies.  They  have  gone  back  too  far.  And  von 
Kluck  can  bring  reserves  from  his  left,  from  Bue- 
low's  army,  even  from  Hausen's,  to  defeat  our  at 
tacking  force. 

GENERAL 
Exactly.     That  is  all  I  ask  him  to  do. 

CHIEF 

I  don't  understand  that  remark.  But  I  agree  with 
the  Director  that  in  these  circumstances  the  forces 
you  propose  to  use  cannot  defeat  von  Kluck  by  a 
frontal  attack. 

GENERAL 
(Rather  vaguely)     I  did  not  use  the  adjective. 

[67] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 
What  do  you  mean? 

GENERAL 

(Blowing  rings  from  his  cigar)  You  have  not 
foreseen  all  the  circumstances. 

DIRECTOR 

I  think,  gentlemen,  we  all  desire  to  impress  on  the 
General  our  belief  that  this  attack  cannot  possibly, 
in  any  circumstances,  defeat  von  Kluck. 

(They  all  nod,  BONNEL  doubtfully,  the  oth 
ers  vigorously) 

GENERAL, 

I  incline  to  agree.  I  do  not  expect  it  to  defeat 
von  Kluck. 

(They  are  bewildered) 

RAMEAUX 
You  order  an  attack  which  you  admit  will  fail? 

GENERAL 

(Looking  at  clock)  When  you  permit  me  to  com 
plete  dictating  my  orders,  our  plan  of  battle  will  be 
come  more  clear. 

DIRECTOR 

If  von  Kluck  wins  — and  you  admit  he  will  —  not 
only  is  Paris  lost,  but  our  left  flank  is  routed ! 
[68] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL, 
I  promised  you  five  minutes.     Two  yet  remain. 

BONNEL, 
Go  on,  General,  please. 

(The  others  are  silent) 

GENERAL 

(Decisively  again)  Very  well.  Rameaux,  take 
these  orders.  (He  dictates  from  the  map)  "  All 
the  armies  of  the  left  and  center  except  the  Sixth  will 
halt  where  they  are.  They  will  spend  to-day  in  re 
forming  and  reorganizing.  They  will  attack  the 
enemy  at  dawn  to-morrow." 

CHIEF 
A  general  offensive ! 

GENERAL, 

(Continuing)  "  The  British  army  will  re-cross 
the  Marne  and  drive  in  between  von  Kluck  and  von 
Buelow." 

DIRECTOR 

But  von  Kluck  is  already  across  the  Marne !  The 
British  cannot  re-cross  without  a  battle ! 

GENERAL, 

'  The  Fifth  army  will  fall  upon  von  Buelow.  On 
our  right,  Castelnau's  Second  army  will  continue  to 

[69] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

stand  firm  before  Nancy,  and  Sarrail's  Third  army 
covering  Verdun  will  attack  the  Crown  Prince.  In 
the  center  —  in  the  center" —  (His  voice  rises) 
"  between  the  Fifth  and  Third  armies,  General  Foch, 
with  the  Ninth  army,  will  attack  weakly  on  the  first 
day,  just  holding  von  Buelow's  left  and  von  Hausen's 
Saxons.  On  the  second  day  he  will  retreat  three 
miles,  holding  the  Southern  exits  to  the  marshes  of 
St.  Gond.  The  enemy  will  pursue,  hoping  to  break 
our  center.  Foch  will  retire  again  on  the  third  day, 
back  to  where  the  second  half  of  the  mass  of  ma 
neuver  — 

RAMEAUX 

(Writing)  — Eleventh  corps,  Forty-Second  di 
vision  — 

GENERAL, 

—  will  be  waiting  for  him.  During  the  three  days, 
the  German  reserves  will  have  been  drawn  to  their 
left,  to  meet  the  flanking  attack  from  Paris.  When 
the  dispatch  of  reserves  to  von  Kluck  and  the  salient 
produced  by  the  German  pursuit  of  the  Ninth  army 
has  weakened  the  enemy  center,  Foch  will  turn  and 
throw  in  his  fresh  troops,  the  mass  of  maneuver,  kept 
in  reserve  until  the  battle  is  ripe  —  until  the  battle 
is  ripe  — 

CHIEF 

(To  DIRECTOR)     Napoleon's  phrase  again! 
[70] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

—  upon  the  junction  between  the  Prussian  Guard 
and  the  Saxons,  rupturing  the  German  line  and 
throwing  back  the  Guard  into  the  Marshes  of  St. 
Gond."  (He  rises  and  drops  the  map  and  repeats  as 
in  a  trance)  The  Marshes  of  St.  Gond !  The  same 
old  place ! 

BONNEL 
(In  awe)     Eighteen  fourteen  again  ! 

(They  are  all  much  impressed) 

GENERAL 

(  Who  has  seemed  'bewildered^  as  though  trying  to 
remember  something,  recovers  liimself  and  resumes 
dictation)  "  The  enemy  will  then  be  forced  to  re 
treat  instantly  all  along  the  line,  even  if  he  is  winning 
before  Paris.  When  this  occurs  all  our  armies  will 
press  the  pursuit." 

BONNEL 

Then  whether  the  Sixth  army  defeats  von  Kluck 
does  not  matter? 

GENERAL 
Not  if  it  keeps  him  busy  for  three  days. 

CHIEF 
I  believe  this  plan  must  bring  disaster. 

[71] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 

Here  are  three  reasons  why  your  plan  must  fail. 
First,  the  morale  — 

GENERAL 

(Rises)  Gentlemen,  you  all  disapprove  my  plan. 
You  oppose  my  battle  orders.  Very  good.  I  over 
rule  your  objections.  My  decision  is  made.  It  is 
irrevocable.  The  new  plan  will  be  put  into  execution 
immediately.  You  will  all  get  to  work  at  once,  and, 
above  all,  impress  on  the  field  commanders  that  time 
is  everything.  Delay  or  faltering  will  not  be  par 
doned. 

(They  look  at  one  another) 

DIRECTOR 
There  seems  nothing  more  to  be  said. 

(They  all  salute.     The  GENERAL  returns 
the  salute) 

RAMEAUX 

I  have  made  my  protest.  You  may  count  on  me  to 
do  my  utmost. 

GENERAL, 
Of  course,  Rameaux,  I  know  that. 

CHIEF 

Your  plan  is  now  ours.     I  forget  every  objection, 
every  doubt. 
[72] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

DIRECTOR 

I  am  your  subordinate,  no  longer  your  adviser.     I 
will  execute  the  orders. 

(Takes  the  sheet  of  paper  from  RAMEAUX) 

BONNEL 

It  is  the  first  time  I  have  ever  doubted  you,  Gen 
eral.     But  your  head  is  worth  ten  like  mine. 

(The  four  Officers  go  out,  all  much  de 
pressed.  D'ARGOULLES  closes  the  door  after 
them) 

D'ARGOULLES 
Did  you  get  much  sleep,  sir? 

GENERAL 

I  am  a  new  man.     But  didn't  I  tell  you  to  go  to 
bed  and  not  ge't  up  until  I  sent  for  you? 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Abashed)     I  must   apologize  for  intruding.     I 
heard  you.     I  thought  you  might  want  something. 

GENERAL 
Intruding?     What  do  you  mean? 

D'ARGOULLES 

I  mean  when  I  came  in  here,  and  you  shouted  at 
me. 

[73] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 
You  came  in  here? 

D'ARGOULLES 
Yes,  twice,  sir. 

GENERAL, 
When? 

D'ARGOULLES 

After  you  went  to  sleep.  Don't  you  remember 
calling  out  at  me? 

GENERAL, 
What  are  you  talking  about? 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Surprised)  You  must  have  been  asleep  all  the 
time  t 

GENERAL, 
Have  you  gone  mad,  Gaston? 

D'ARGOULLES 

You  were  walking  in  your  sleep,  sir.  I  thought 
I  woke  you  and  that  you  recognized  me.  But  I  see 
now  —  you  were  still  asleep  when  you  called, 

GENERAL, 

You  found  me  sleep-walking  in  here? 
[74] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

D'ARGOULLES 
Yes,  sir. 

GENERAL 

That's  very  odd.  I've  never  done  that,  boy. 
What  was  I  doing? 

D'AEGOULLES 
I  was  in  the  passage,  about  half  past  one. 

GENERAL 

(Shaking  his  finger)  You  didn't  go  to  bed  at  all, 
then! 

D'AEGOULLES 

I  heard  footsteps,  so  I  came  in  here.  It  was  dark. 
You  were  stumbling  about.  I  saw  you  were  sleep 
walking.  I  wondered  whether  to  wake  you.  I  was 
afraid  you  might  hurt  yourself.  But  when  I  came 
towards  you  you  called  out. 

GENERAL 
What  did  I  say? 

D'AEGOULLES 

"Who's  there?"  you  said,  and  I  thought  I  had 
wakened  you.  I  said,  "  It's  only  I,  sir,"  andN  went 
out. 

GENERAL 

(Vaguely)     It's  very  strange.     (Putting  hand  to 

[75] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

head)     There  was  some  queer  dream  I  had.     You 
came  in  twice,  you  said? 

D'ARGOULXES 

The  second  time  you  weren't  here. 

GENERAL 
(Startled)     Not  here!     Of  course  I  was  here. 

D'ARGOULLES 
No,  sir. 

GENERAL 

Nonsense.  It  was  dark.  You  didn't  see  me  on 
the  couch. 

D'ARGOUI/LES 
Oh,  no,  sir.     Rameaux  struck  a  light. 

GENERAL 
What's  that? 

D'ARGOULLES 

The  staff  wanted  to  wake  you.  They  had  some 
news.  There  was  some  talk  by  the  door.  Then  Ra 
meaux  lit  a  match. 

GENERAL, 
Well? 
[76] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

D'ARGOULLES 

You   weren't    on    the    couch.     You    were    in    the 
study. 

GENERAL 
(Incredulous)     The  study! 

D'ARGOULLES 
The  door  was  shut. 

GENERAL 
It's  open,  now! 

D'ARGOULLES 

Bonnel  persuaded  the  others  not  to  call  you.  We 
went  out,  came  back  at  three  and  found  you  asleep. 

GENERAL 

Well,  I'll  be  damned !  I'm  no  somnambulist !  The 
study!  (Goes  and  looks  through  the  door,  returns 
to  desk)  When  I  woke  up  just  now  (pointing),  I 
asked  you  for  that  map. 

D'ARGOULLES 
Yes,  sir. 

GENERAL 

I  knew  I  had  made  up  my  mind.  I  was  ready  to 
dictate  the  orders.  But  I  found,  on  the  map,  I  had 
marked  it  all  down.  It's  very  odd,  Gaston,  but  I 
don't  remember  doing  that ! 

[77] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

D'ARGOULLES 

Perhaps  you  did  it  in  your  sleep.  (The  GENERAL 
muses)  It's  wonderful,  your  plan,  if  I  may  say  so, 
sir. 

GENERAL 
So  you  took  it  all  in,  eh,  you  rascal? 

D'ARGOULLES 

(Enthusiastic ally)  The  attack  on  the  flank,  the 
retreat  in  the  center,  and  then  the  decisive  blow  on 
the  third  day  I 

GENERAL 

I'm  glad  you  like  it,  boy.  The  others  don't. 
They  don't  think  the  Sixth  army  can  hold  up  von 
Kluck  long  enough.  .  .  .  And  he  must  be  stopped 
for  three  days,  so  the  center  attack  can  come  off. 

D'ARGOULLES 
Of  course  they'll  hold  him,  sir. 

GENERAL 

Yes,  I  feel  that.  They  will.  But  how?  That's 
what  stumps  me.  All  that  the  others  said  is  sound, 
Gaston.  I  could  not  answer  them.  But  they  are 
wrong.  Somehow,  I  know  they're  wrong.  I  don't 
know  why. 

D'ARGOULLES 

How  did  it  come  to  you,  your  plan  ? 
[78] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

GENERAL 

(After  a  pause)  How  did  it  come?  Do  we  ever 
know  how  these  things  come? 

D'ARGOULLES 

You  said  before  you  went  to  sleep  you  knew  it 
would. 

GENERAL 

We  rack  our  brains  for  days  and  nights  over  some 
problem  that  is  too  much  for  us,  we  think  until  we 
can  think  no  longer,  and  then  —  the  answer  comes ! 
Where  does  it  come  from,  Gaston?  Tell  me  that! 

D'ARGOULLES 

You  asked  me  to-night  how  to  beat  the  Germans. 
Now  you  ask  me  something  harder  —  to  explain  the 
miracle  of  Inspiration. 

GENERAL 

Inspiration  !  I  suppose  that's  what  it  was.  I  had 
worked  out  something  quite  different.  It  took  me 
four  days.  I  was  wrong.  God,  how  wrong  I  was ! 
It  would  have  brought  disaster,  that  plan.  It  was 
the  best  I  could  do.  I  was  going  to  put  it  into  ex 
ecution.  But  something  stopped  me.  Something 
told  me  to  wait.  The  armies  seemed  falling  to 
pieces,  through  my  indecision.  My  staff  doubted 
me,  to-night  they  began  to  despise  me.  Still  there 

[79] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

was  something  that  wouldn't  let  me  take  the  decision, 
the  wrong  decision.  Then  —  this  came.  Not  from 
within  me.  From  something  outside.  Where  did  it 
come  from? 

D'ARGOULLES 

The  artist  knows  that  his  masterpiece  —  his  poem, 
his  statue,  or  his  plan  of  battle  —  doesn't  come  from 
his  own  brain. 

GENERAL 
Where  does  it  come  from,  then? 

D'ARGOULLJES 

In  the  old  days,  he  thought  some  god  or  dead  hero 
had  inspired  him. 

GENERAL 

(Laughing)  Ghosts  —  visions  —  eh?  You  don't 
believe  in  that  claptrap?  (D'ARGOULLES  laughs) 
What's  the  answer,  though?  .  .  .  It's  very  strange 
about  that  map.  I  wonder  if  I  was  asleep ! 

D'ARGOULLES 
What  did  you  dream  about,  sir? 

GENERAL 

(Vaguely)  Oh,  the  armies,  of  course.  Some  of 
the  Emperor's  old  campaigns,  I  think,  all  jumbled  up 
with  this  one.  And  maps,  and  plans,  and  the  battles 
[80] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

last  month.     Well,  we  mustn't  gossip  here  like  old 

women  !     There's  a  campaign  on,  boy ! 

(As  he  turns  to  go  out,  RAMEAUX  bursts  m 
followed  by  the  CHIEF  OF  STAFF,  the  DIREC 
TOR  and  BONNEL,  all  in  joyous  excitement.) 

RAMEAUX 

General,  your  plan !  An  inspiration !  You've 
got  them  \ 

GENERAL, 
What's  the  matter? 

DIRECTOR 

A  masterpiece  of  strategy!  But  how  did  you 
know  ? 

GENERAL, 
Know  what,  Director? 

CHIEF 

We  all  thought  your  plan  brilliant.  But  there 
was  one  fatal  objection. 

BONNEL. 

We  didn't  think  the  Sixth  army  could  hold  von 
Kluck  three  days  so  your  blow  in  the  center  could 
come  off. 

GENERAL, 
( Impatiently  )     Well  ? 

[81] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
Von  Kluck  has  walked  into  your  trap ! 

DIRECTOR 

It  was  the  very  moment  for  the  offensive!  But 
how  did  you  know? 

GENERAL 

You  seem  to  have  some  surprising  news  about  von 
Kluck. 

CHIEF 
He  has  turned  aside  from  Paris ! 

RAMEAUX 

To  the  South-east !  He  is  marching  with  his  right 
flank  exposed  to  the  attack  you  ordered ! 

GENERAL 

(Bewildered  and  astonished)  His  flank?  His 
flank?  He  presents  me  his  flank?  But  is  this  pos 
sible?  Why  should  he  do  that?  How  do  you  know? 

BONNEL 

From  three  separate  sources,  sir,  all  reliable,  all 
independent,  all  in  agreement. 

GENERAL 

You  are  sure  there  is  no  mistake? 
[82] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

CHIEF 

No,  sir.  All  von  Kluck's  troops  are  marching 
across  our  front. 

GENERAL 

(Struggles  to  remember,  but  carmot;  the  others 
are  surprised  at  his  attitude)  His  flank,  of  course. 
His  flank!  .  .  .  Why  am  I  so  surprised? 

BONNEL 

You  are  not  well,  sir.  The  strain  has  been  too 
much. 

DIRECTOR 
You  didn't  know?     Is  this  an  accident? 

RAMEAUX 
(To  CHIEF)     He  didn't  know!     It's  all  luck. 

GENERAL 

I  knew  about  their  flank  march!  Why  am  I  so 
surprised?  My  whole  plan  was  based  on  that!  .  .  . 
My  whole  plan! 

DIRECTOR 

How  did  you  know  von  Kluck  would  make  that 
move  ? 

GENERAL 

(Bewildered)     How    did    I    know?     How    did    I 

[83] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

know?     Never  mind   that   now.     Go    on.     Tell   me 
more. 

CHIEF 
Your  plan  is  feasible,  now. 

RAMEAUX 

The  English  can  recross  the  Marne,  as  you  said, 
for  when  we  attack  to-morrow  von  Kluck  must  recall 
his  advanced  troops  over  the  river,  and  form  front  to 
flank. 

GENERAL 

(Repeats  vaguely)  Of  course.  Form  front  to 
flank! 

DIRECTOR 

It  was  the  frontal  attack  on  von  Kluck  that  we 
thought  madness. 

BONNEL, 
You  said  you  hadn't  used  that  adjective! 

GENERAL, 
(Vaguely)     Why,  yes.     So  I  did! 

RAMEAUX 

(Who  has  picked  up  the  map  from  the  desk) 
What  damned  fools  we've  all  been ! 

CHIEF 

What's  the  matter? 
[84] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEATJX 

He  knew  it  all  along !  Look  here  !  (  They  crowd 
around  the  map,  the  GENERAL  with  the  others)  He 
has  marked  von  Kluck's  flank  march  across  our  front 
on  this  map ! 

BONNEL 

He  had  marked  the  map  when  we  came  in  and  woke 
him ! 

DIRECTOR 
Of  course  he  had !     He  dictated  his  orders  from  it ! 

GENERAL 

(Still  somewhat  dazed,  takes  the  map)  Why,  so 
I  did!  (Triumphantly)  I  see  it  now!  Of  course, 
I  thought  of  that ! 

DIRECTOR 
But  how  did  you  know? 

GENERAL 

He  had  to  make  that  flank  march.  He  was  drift 
ing  apart  from  Buelow's  army.  He  had  to  close  the 
gap.  It  would  have  opened  by  morning.  This 
march  to  the  South-east  across  our  flank  was  forced 
on  him.  He  had  to  do  it  to  keep  in  touch  with 
Buelow.  I  worked  it  out.  I  don't  remember  when. 
But  I  knew  he'd  do  it !  My  whole  plan  was  based  on 
that ! 

(They  are  all  overwhelmed) 

[85] 


THE  GENIUS  OF  THE  MARNE 

RAMEAUX 
Will  you  let  me  read  that  Vie  Parisienne? 

GENERAL, 

(Laughing)  Come,  let's  all  get  to  work.  The 
campaign  is  proceeding —  according  to  plan ! 

RAMEAUX 

And  what  a  plan!  A  plan  worthy  of  Napoleon 
himself ! 

GENERAL, 

(Halting  near  the  door)  We  owe  everything  we 
know  of  war  to  the  Great  Captain,  comrades.  Vive 
VEmpereur! 

(They  echo  the  cry  "  Vive  I'Empereur  "  as 
they  go  out) 

CUETAIN 


[86] 


14  DAY  USE 

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